Saelemaekers sidelined: Roma midfielder faces month-long Injury layoff

Roma’s Alexis Saelemaekers has suffered a setback following the team’s match against Genoa. The Belgian midfielder underwent medical examinations at Campus Biomedico after being forced off the field in the 50th minute of the game.

La Gazzetta dello Sport report that the Initial diagnosis revealed a micro-compound fracture just below the fibula and a sprain trauma in his right ankle. Further assessments will be conducted once the swelling subsides to determine the full extent of the injury. At that point, Roma and the player will decide whether surgical intervention is necessary or if a conservative therapy approach, similar to that used for Wijnaldum a couple of seasons ago, would be more appropriate.

The injury is expected to keep Saelemaekers out of action for approximately 30-40 days, potentially longer depending on the treatment approach. This means he will miss crucial matches against Udinese, Bilbao, Venezia, Elfsborg, and Monza. The earliest possible return date is projected to be October 20th, after the international break, for the game against Inter.

This injury comes as a significant blow to manager De Rossi, who had been counting on the former AC Milan player to provide versatility and width on the flank. With Zalewski’s disciplinary exclusion and Joao Costa’s departure, the coach will now need to rely more heavily on Angelino and El Shaarawy, while hoping for rapid progress from Saud.

The severity of Saelemaekers’ injury became apparent immediately after the Genoa match when he was unable to put weight on his foot and had to be carried off the field. This setback adds another challenge to Roma’s already difficult journey under De Rossi’s leadership.